How To Get Along With People

This weekend I went to a slider party at my son and daughter-in-law’s house. There was a wide mix of people there and I had a really good time. My wife and I were some of the last to leave. The thing I found most interesting was how easy it was to talk to some people and not to others. The whole thing struck me so much I wanted to write a post about how to get along with people.

I love being around people, but I am often seen as being sort of introverted or aloof. I am not, but I do love to watch people and see how the act and what they do. I learn so much from it. I am a people watcher for sure. This is what I saw, and what I experienced.

There was one group that stayed pretty isolated. They are all friends and they stayed pretty much to themselves. If I went up to them and talked to them, they were polite, but they did not go out of their way to include me in their conversations or ask how I was.

The other group was a bunch of people who, some were friends, others were not but they talked to each other finding out what work they did, how things were going for them and what they enjoyed doing as hobbies or fun. They were so easy to talk to. I found myself in deep conversations with people I really didn’t know well or ever before.

This is how to get along with people.

Be interested in them and show them that you are interested in them. Ask them where they work, go to school. What do they like to do for fun? Do they fish? Do they play tennis? Ask them if they have kids, how many, ages. Ask them anything you want to know.

Well, maybe not anything, but you know what I mean.

People love to talk about things they know well. They know themselves pretty good. Sure, there are some people who feel threatened by too many questions, but if you ask in a nonthreatening way, most will be fine.

If they ask you questions, answer them. Let them into your life a little. Just don’t bore them to death with things they do’t want to know.

See what you have in common. Even if you have nothing in common, you can express your thoughts and feelings as long as you don’t start telling them how dumb they are for theirs. Everyone has a right to their own opinions. If the conversation starts to go over ground that is obviously touchy, change the subject or find someone else to talk to.

I loved talking to some of those people. I also loved learning how to get along with people.

P.S. I found this blog post that says much of the same things, but a little differently! It’s at Rowdy Kittens and I am sure you will love it!

Wow! I just found another one! It must be something in the water! This one from White Hot Truth!